BE CAREFUL if you install wheel spacers

[gshadow325]

Thanks for clearing things up. Yes, by you installing the lugs reversed will cause the wheel to get very loose and eventually shearing the bolts and wheel falling off

 

[gaterose]

Thanks for clearing things up. Yes, by you installing the lugs reversed will cause the wheel to get very loose and eventually shearing the bolts and wheel falling off

I have to agree that this is plausibly the correct answer (although obviously we can't recreate to determine for sure).

Since the lug nuts are conical, I assume this help center the spacers onto the lugs making the spacers both hub and lug centric.

It seems to me that if the spacer was allowed to wobble around on the lugs (because it wasn't perfectly centered due to the lug nut not centering the stud) it could grind away the stud and allow movement for the wheel to have enough leverage to snap them off.

 

[typehxr1]

Hard to say. None of them were loose but since they were not installed as designed, it complicated things. I am replacing all existing studs on the other wheels and removing all of the existing spacers.

 

[theliman]

I am sorry for the OP's misfortune, though it certainly could have been worse. And insurance picking up the tab?! Sweet.

I must say, I'm a bit relieved to hear that it may have been a pretty clear case of installer error. I'll get 4wheelparts or someone to install for a few more dollars, check 'em a few times (probably a lot for the first few thousand miles), and hopefully not fear driving off a cliff as I head to the mountains all winter. I'll still probably drive slower, but that's not a bad thing anyway.

 

[HiVel-JR]

Holy smokes, the folks you spoke with are right about surviving that.

Also be sure to cross high speed three wheel stop off your list!!!

 

[typehxr1]

^ no shit right. Had I known about the"maintenance" of keeping an eye on these things in the beginning, I wouldn't have got them. Crazy how fully torqued lugs created that much stress from being backwards

 

[zopperman]

I have to agree that this is plausibly the correct answer (although obviously we can't recreate to determine for sure).

Since the lug nuts are conical, I assume this help center the spacers onto the lugs making the spacers both hub and lug centric.

It seems to me that if the spacer was allowed to wobble around on the lugs (because it wasn't perfectly centered due to the lug nut not centering the stud) it could grind away the stud and allow movement for the wheel to have enough leverage to snap them off.

This. OP, you installed the flat side of the lugs facing the spacer? Not the conical side which helps center it on the lugs

^ no shit right. Had I known about the"maintenance" of keeping an eye on these things in the beginning, I wouldn't have got them. Crazy how fully torqued lugs created that much stress from being backwards

They don't require so much "maintenance" as they do just doing it the right way. I haven't looked at mine since i did the initial re-torquing...

 

[typehxr1]

Not sure. The lugs securing the spacer to the rotor studs were backwards. They were tightened to spec but it didn't matter. Spacer was flush against rotor

 

[zopperman]

Not sure. The lugs securing the spacer to the rotor studs were backwards. They were tightened to spec but it didn't matter. Spacer was flush against rotor

Of course it was flush against the rotor, but it wasn't centered AND torqued on the lugs and nothing prevented it from moving on the lugs, thus shearing the studs...

you have a big "O" on the little "o" sized stud, the stud can wiggle inside the big O. the conical lugs, when used correctly will lug - center the spacer and you shouldn't have issues.

I have wheeled the piss out of mine and stand by them

 

[oljedi11950]

What he ^ said . WTF

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Okay that clears a lot up and I extend my apologies if my comments rubbed you the wrong way. I've just seen a lot of one-post wonders that are fairly suspicious and difficult to validate.

It does in fact seem like this was caused by you; but I am very happy that you and those involved survived.

 

[ghs215]

[*]GHS, my bad I couldn't see your "this thread is worthless without pics" smiley on my tapatalk app. My bad

GHS has much love for you :bigok:

 

[TRDCal]

I can't say many home mechanics are like me with a whole assortment of snap on tools and a 75 gallon air tank.

Your a tool. No pun intended.

:focus:

 

[tangdella]

God blessed that nobody hurt.
Thanks for posting the information.

 

[Ventil8]

I had my Spidertraxx spacers installed by 4Wheel Parts store here in Austin this past February and haven't had any issues. I got my info from JA's 4runner website, which by the way, this dude is a 4runner genius. I wanted the aggressive stance while keeping my stock wheels, which I think look just fine. 4Wheel Parts store required that I bring my 4runner back in after 100 miles of driving to re-torque, otherwise I would void the warranty.

 

[AleksV]

I was in similar situation. same wheel, spidertraxx, but I was only going about 30 mph, and my wheel hit another person. it was all good though, it was dealership **** up installing the wheel, so they fixed it all. the problem was the spacer wasn't tightened, so when it fell off, it was still tight on the wheel.

 

[kkz]

I guess All-Pro uses these "fool proof" lugs for this reason. I was wondering how you were able to install the lugs backwards, but these were the only open end wheel spacer lugs I've used, and as you can tell - aren't able to be installed backwards.

 

[gshadow325]

[MENTION=76073]kkz[/MENTION] those are 17mm head lugs you are referencing. With 19mm open end Acorn lugs you can install them backwards since the head is the same size as the lug. Nothing is fool proof, nothing! What seems logical to the 20 year veteran mechanic, can be effed up in 5 minutes by stupidity.

Things like this is why I want to do things myself. I have had customers come in telling me they just came from jiffy lube for a oil change and their car is leaking oil now. Come on does the car really need two oil filter gaskets?

Sad thing is 99% of these so called pros ase, fyi, bte, abc, pss, what ever acronyms they want to use to make them sound better, don't even own a torque wrench in their tool box. I am sure [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] can attest to that. These mechanics think going to town with a air gun will suffice.

meanwhile in my personal home tool box i have one of these shiney snap on digital torque wrenches. has to do a head gasket, so perfect reason to buy a new tool LoL

 

[wnelax04sr5]

[MENTION=76073]kkz[/MENTION] those are 17mm head lugs you are referencing. With 19mm open end Acorn lugs you can install them backwards since the head is the same size as the lug. Nothing is fool proof, nothing! What seems logical to the 20 year veteran mechanic, can be effed up in 5 minutes by stupidity.

Things like this is why I want to do things myself. I have had customers come in telling me they just came from jiffy lube for a oil change and their car is leaking oil now. Come on does the car really need two oil filter gaskets?

Sad thing is 99% of these so called pros ase, fyi, bte, abc, pss, what ever acronyms they want to use to make them sound better, don't even own a torque wrench in their tool box. I am sure [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] can attest to that. These mechanics think going to town with a air gun will suffice.

meanwhile in my personal home tool box i have one of these shiney snap on digital torque wrenches. has to do a head gasket, so perfect reason to buy a new tool LoL

see post #53

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

.....Loctite is not something I would want to rely on. Buying correct fitting wheels is the better choice. .....

Do you ever fly a commercial airline? Ever relied on a weapons system to stop the bad guys from overrunning your position? You'd be suprised how much some of us rely on Loctite!

By the way, I understand your point was that relying on Loctite alone is foolish. Components have to be properly mated and correctly torqued and then at that point Loctite becomes worth far more than its weight in gold!